How to Use MASM in Visual Studio 2022

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

This tutorial allows you to use MASM which is an Assembly Language for x86 Processors. This is what your CPU interprets when you write a piece of code in a programming language like C++, Python, or Java and is translated by the compiler. Note: This tutorial only works for Windows devices and this guide uses Visual Studio Community edition, but you can use any edition of visual studio. If you already have Visual Studio installed, skip to the second part.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Installing Visual Studio 2022 Community Edition

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Visual-Studio-Website.png\/460px-Visual-Studio-Website.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Visual-Studio-Website.png\/728px-Visual-Studio-Website.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":292,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":462,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    1
    Navigate to the Visual Studio download website. Scroll down and click on download Visual Studio and from drop down menu, select the “Community 2022” option.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/03\/VS_Installer.png\/460px-VS_Installer.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/03\/VS_Installer.png\/499px-VS_Installer.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":265,"bigWidth":499,"bigHeight":287,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    2
    Open the installer. Once you have downloaded the installer, click on the installer to open it. After the installer opens, it will ask you to pick what programming languages you want to install with Visual Studio and we will select “Desktop development with C++” and click on install.
    3. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Setting up MASM in Visual Studio

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/39\/Creating_Project_VS.jpg\/460px-Creating_Project_VS.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/39\/Creating_Project_VS.jpg\/728px-Creating_Project_VS.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":156,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":247,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    After installing Visual Studio, open Visual Studio and create a new project, and from there select the Empty Project. After selecting an empty project, it will ask you for a project name. You may name it whatever you would like. Then click “Create.”
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Build_Customizations_VS.jpg\/460px-Build_Customizations_VS.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/14\/Build_Customizations_VS.jpg\/728px-Build_Customizations_VS.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":225,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":356,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    After you have created the project, go to the solution explorer on the left side and right-click on your project name, from the menu navigate to "Build Dependencies" -> Build Customizations. A small window will pop up from the window, check MASM, and hit “Ok.”
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/New_file_VS.png\/460px-New_file_VS.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/New_file_VS.png\/469px-New_file_VS.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":320,"bigWidth":469,"bigHeight":326,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    3
    Add a new file to the project. Right-click on Template and navigate to Add Item, New File. Select the C++ File from the window and on the bottom change the name from “Source.cpp” to “main.asm”
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ac\/Build_Setting_Warning_VS.png\/460px-Build_Setting_Warning_VS.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ac\/Build_Setting_Warning_VS.png\/569px-Build_Setting_Warning_VS.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":67,"bigWidth":569,"bigHeight":83,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    4
    Copy and paste the template from the pastebin linked in the Things You'll Need section. You are advised to check that the build mode is set to x86 and not x64.
  5. 5
    Done! The IDE is now set to build MASM. However, these steps will need to be followed every time you need to build in MASM so to make it easier, follow along in the third part of the tutorial which will show how to make a project template.
    6. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Creating A Project Template for a Visual Studio Project

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Creating_Project_Template_VS.jpg\/460px-Creating_Project_Template_VS.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Creating_Project_Template_VS.jpg\/728px-Creating_Project_Template_VS.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":260,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":411,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    To create the template, go to Project on the top, and then from the drop down menu, select "Export Template." A window will pop and then hit next. it will then ask you for a template name, icon and description. Name it “Assembly Language Project” and hit "Finish."
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f3\/Create_Project_VS.png\/460px-Create_Project_VS.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f3\/Create_Project_VS.png\/624px-Create_Project_VS.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":307,"bigWidth":624,"bigHeight":416,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    2
    Create a new project. After creating the template, all that's needed to do build MASM is to create a new project in visual studio and search up the template name in the search bar.
    3. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Things You'll Need


      You Might Also Like

      Converting Binary to Decimal: Positional Notation & Doubling
      How to
      Change 4-Digit User Codes on Schlage Locks
      2 Simple Ways to Format Text Into Code on Discord
      How to
      Run a Program from the Command Line on Linux
      How to
      Delay a Batch File: Timeout, Pause, Ping, Choice & Sleep
      How to
      Factory Reset a Schlage Lock & Restore the Default Programming Code
      Learn to Write Pseudocode: What It Is and Why You Need It
      Convert from Decimal to Hexadecimal: A Quick Guide + Examples
      How to
      Make an Exe File
      How to
      View Source Code
      How to
      Make a Program Using Notepad
      How to
      Create a Program
      3 Ways to Download GitHub Directories and Repositories
      How to
      Code
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 42,397 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement